Mets pitchers Kodai Senga, Brooks Raley dealing with injuries
Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga sits in the dugout before pitching in a spring training game against the Cardinals on March 5 in Jupiter, Fla. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Mets scratched righthander Kodai Senga from Saturday night’s start because of tendinitis at the base of his right index finger, the team announced. They consider him day-to-day.
After Senga’s finger bothered him for several days, they decided to have him not pitch against the Nationals and sent him for medical imaging, which led to the diagnosis. The Mets view the move as precautionary and m
anager Buck Showalter said he expects Senga to be OK to start the season.
“I’ve gone through this with other players that are adjusting to a new baseball,” general manager Billy Eppler said. “Because they squeeze it really tight, and if you squeeze a baseball really tight for a lot of time and are not used to squeezing it that much and that much repetition, [it leads to soreness].”
Senga is transitioning to the majors after more than a decade in Japan, where balls are pre-tacked and easier to grip.
Senga could have pitched through it in the regular season, Showalter said, but at this time of year, there is little benefit to that. “He’s had a little discomfort there the last few days and didn’t think it was a good idea to pitch if we don’t have to,” Showalter said.
Starting in Senga’s place: bullpen candidate John Curtiss.He tossed a scoreless inning, running his Grapefruit League total to four shutout frames (eight strikeouts, one hit) in four appearances.
Curtiss on his camp success after missing 2022 because of Tommy John surgery: “I’m happy with the results, but I’m happier with the process. I feel a lot better that I feel good physically and the ball is coming out of my hand well and that camp is going well and the team is jelling well. That matters more to me than results in the Grapefruit League. But it’s nice to have them.”
Raley out of WBC
Lefthanded reliever Brooks Raley has a “low-grade” left hamstring strain, the Mets announced. He will not play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic but stuck around for pregame introductions during the opener Saturday night.
Showalter expects Raley to be fine for the start of the season. After hurting his leg during a routine exercise, Raley said it wasn’t a big deal and he could pitch through it, according to Showalter. But the Mets chose caution and are having him return to Florida on Monday. He has been in Arizona to prepare for the tournament. Replacing Raley on the WBC roster: former Met Aaron Loup, now with the Angels.
A Quintana mystery
Eppler said he doesn’t expect an update on Jose Quintana (rib stress fracture) until Wednesday, more than a week after the team sent him to New York for additional tests. They’re waiting on certain doctors to be available to offer expertise.
The Mets are still trying to figure out “exactly what we’re dealing with,” Showalter said.
Is there any reason to believe the diagnosis is different from what was previously announced? “I’m just going to wait till all the information comes in,” Eppler said.
Extra bases
The Mets lost to the Nationals, 10-7, and made their first round of cuts, sending seven players to minor-league camp: two top prospects in catcher Kevin Parada and outfielder Alex Ramirez plus pitchers Grant Hartwig, Jose Butto, Eric Orze, Josh Walker and Connor Grey.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
